Explore Historic Tracks and Scenic Lookouts

The Lookout Track & Surveyors Monument: Panoramic Views & Pioneering History

This scenic track offers a rewarding walk with historical significance:

• Walk Duration: It’s a short 5-minute walk to the lookout at the top, or a pleasant 15-minute loop track for a full experience.
• Village Views: Enjoy panoramic views looking out over Shantytown’s historic village, offering a unique perspective of the park.
• Surveyors Monument: Located beside the viewing platform, this monument was built by the Westland Surveyors. It commemorates the centenary of the founding of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors in 1888.

The monument itself is a replica of the iron beacons used in the triangulation surveys of Westland, which began in 1867 with the first topographical map published the following year. Its hanging vanes, moving in the slightest wind, created reflections visible to surveyors from long distances, aiding their crucial work.